Our Health Heroes Win Scottish Health Awards

November 07, 2008 2:29 PM

Five healthcare teams or individuals from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde picked up a high profile honour at the Scottish Health Awards 2008 last night, Thursday 6 November 2008.

Amongst the winners is Effie Flett, a clinical specialist physiotherapist, who received the NHS 60th Award at the gala award ceremony in Edinburgh in recognition of her long standing commitment to the NHS in Scotland and her selfless and long term dedication to patients.

Effie will retire this year but she has been working for NHSScotland for over 40 years and has specialised in Rheumatology for the last 22 years. She is accredited with the development of the physiotherapy rheumatology service at Gartnavel Hospital within this time and was involved in setting up one of the first ankylosing spodilitis classes in Scotland at the hospital. Renowned amongst patients and staff as a caring and friendly person she is a truly worthy winner of the first NHS 60th Award.

The Compass team, a multi-disciplinary mental health team also collected the Equality in Healthcare Award last night for their valuable work with asylum seekers and refugees of all ages in Glasgow. This is the only service of its kind in Scotland and over the last few years the Compass team has provided a range of culturally and gender sensitive therapies for asylum seekers and refugees affected by trauma in their countries of origin. Their woman’s group programme utilises activities to help build self esteem and reduce isolation amongst women while their consultant child and adolescent therapist provides a group for unaccompanied young women.

The Compass group also contributes to partnership working at a national and local level through involvement in a cross parliamentary group on asylum seekers and refugees, and in local violence against women partnerships with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

A staff nurse at Gartnavel General Hospital collected an accolade at the ceremony for her dedication towards caring for elderly patients in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Emma Steward received the Older People Care Award in acknowledgment of the high standard of care that she gives to her patients.

Emma has been a staff nurse in the recovery room at Gartnavel Hospital for a year and is one of the most popular and highly regarded members of the team. She goes beyond her official duties to ensure that patients receive the best treatment and will often cancel appointments to stay with an elderly patient after her shift has finished. Emma received the Older People Care Award after colleagues at Gartnavel General Hospital nominated her to recognise her valuable work with elderly patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse, Linda Harley received the Heart Disease Award for her work with patients who are recovering from a heart attack. Linda has worked in nursing for over 30 years and has been based at Vale of Leven Hospital for 25 year of her career. To aid patients in their recovery she will often visit them in their homes and has also organised keep fit classes as part of their rehabilitation. She is always there to encourage patients and will go out of her way to tailor individual programmes to meet the needs of individual patients. Linda received the Heart Disease Team Award after her colleagues at Vale of Leven Hospital nominated her to reward her kindness and dedication towards helping heart attack sufferers in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

James Henderson, a ward manager at Leverndale Hospital collected the Mental Health Award for his tireless work in providing a warm and friendly environment for patients at the Campsie Ward of the hospital. Patients are encouraged to get involved in structured outdoor activities such as five-a-side football and walking groups. James also organises an annual holiday for patients to a highland cottage where they can enjoy activities such as fishing and walking. He has also developed a health eating plan that has been considered so influential that all of the forensic in-patient areas within the hospital now use his healthy eating system.

An NHS ambulance team from Kirkintilloch ambulance station was rewarded with the Top Team award at the Scottish Health Awards 2008 for their courage and quick thinking during a daring rescue in a river gorge in the Campsie Hills.

The team of five paramedics risked their own safety to rescue two injured men as they left their vehicles behind to trek across a fast flowing river. To reach the insured me the paramedics had to climb down 60 feet to the patents knowing that if they slipped they could fall into the rocks and water below. After assessing the injuries of the patients, they were winched to safety and accompanied to hospital by a member of the ambulance team.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:

“All the winners of this year’s Scottish Health Awards have made a special contribution to healthcare.

“I would like to congratulate all of the winners from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on winning an award at the Scottish Health Awards 2008.

“Throughout this year, the 60th anniversary of the NHS, there have been a number of national and local events celebrating the distinctive flair of NHS Scotland and the achievements of all those involved in providing first class health care.”

“This is another great opportunity to say thank you to all those in the NHS who, every day, go that extra mile to help people in Scotland.”

Andrew Robertson, Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:

"This is a tremendous achievement which reflects the dedication, care and commitment shown by our staff and reflects just how highly they are valued by patients and members of the public across Greater Glasgow and Clyde."

People in Greater Glasgow and Clyde are thanked for pledging their support for local NHS workers who have shown commitment and dedication to patients and the community. The winners of the Scottish Health Awards 2008 were announced in Edinburgh on Thursday 6th November, at a gala dinner award ceremony. All of the finalists received a donation to their nominated charity, with over £30,000 being donated.

The Scottish Health Awards, now in their sixth year, are designed to acknowledge the dedication, professionalism and hard work of all who work in and with our National Health Service in Scotland to deliver quality healthcare and patient treatment.

The aim of the Scottish Health Awards is to recognise and reward Scotland’s most committed and caring NHS workers who are prepared to go the extra mile. People who might be in jobs that normally don’t have a high profile and who generally should be acknowledged for their commitment to the NHS and their loyalty and devotion to their patients.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS –

Photographs of the winners available on request.

The categories for nominations are outlined below.

Categories:

Please note that nominees must work for NHS Scotland, with the exception of Health Lifestyle, Volunteers, Community and Unsung Hero Awards where nominations are open to everyone.